FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5916

FULL VETO

BYSenators Barr, Newhouse, Hansen, Madsen, Bailey, Anderson and Gaspard

Revising provisions on labeling meat.

Senate Committee on Agriculture

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

AS PASSED LEGISLATURE

BACKGROUND:

The inspection and labeling of meat is regulated under the federal Wholesome Meat Inspection Act.  The United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for providing inspection services in most states, including Washington.

Federal law allows meat ground for retail sale to be labeled as to the larger cut from which it came (e.g. ground round or ground chuck).

Currently, the Washington Meat Inspection Act does not allow labeling distinctions on ground meats.

SUMMARY:

Any licensed retail meat dealer who merely grinds or further grinds into smaller units meat that was inspected and packaged under federal inspection, shall be allowed to display on the label information from the label of the larger unit of meat.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   47    0

     House 80 15 (House amended)

     Senate   42    0 (Senate concurred)

FULL VETO:  (See VETO MESSAGE)